Honouring Healing and Governance: Celebrating Five Years at the 2025 Annual General Meeting
Akwesasne, Ontario, July 24, 2025
This June marked a significant milestone for the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada as we gathered in Toronto, Ontario, for our fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM). The event brought together our Volunteer Board of Directors and foundation staff from across the country to conduct the mandatory annual business meeting of the board of directors and assemble our staff for the annual strategic planning retreat, it was also an opportunity to reflect on five years of impact, celebrate milestones, and chart a course for the future.
Board of Directors, Staff, Edler Sanderson and guests at 2025 AGM in Toronto
At the heart of the mandatory annual business meeting of the board of directors was the deep commitment to the healing of Sixties Scoop Survivors and their descendants. The Board conducted it’s annual statutory obligations under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act as well as taking the time to review and approve the 2025 Grants which approved support to 18 community-led projects rooted in cultural reclamation, wellness, education, advocacy, and commemoration. With this year’s board approved grants, the Foundation has now granted more than 11.9 million to 71 organizations across Canada—strengthening Indigenous-led healing efforts from coast to coast to coast.
Where our Board of Directors gathered for the 2-day Annual General Meeting.
Throughout the AGM, there was a strong sense of reflection and gratitude for how far the Foundation has come since the establishment of its permanent Board of Directors in 2020. Significant and notable accomplishments for the Foundation over the last five years includes:
Built and scaled a national granting program
Developed a Survivor-informed approach to governance and accountability
Launched the 60’s Scoop Archival Working Group Committee for the National Sixties Scoop Healing Archive in partnership with Library and Archives Canada and University of Winnipeg
Develop and lead an annual national colloquium focused on record preservation, cultural rights, and justice
Champion the Indigenous Human Rights issue of preventing the theft of keeping Indigenous children by nation states at the United Nations and international forums
Grown its operational network with professionals and student placements
Maintained clean audits and strong fiscal health of the Foundation
At the 2025 AGM, the board and staff of the Foundation honored Eric Phillips with blanketing ceremony. Board member Phillips, an original permanent board appointment from 2019-2020and Sixties Scoop Survivor, received the 2025NSSHFC Volunteer Service Award. His steadfast commitment, consistent leadership, and humility have helped shape the Foundation’s growth and inspire the next generation of Indigenous governance and advocacy.
Built and scaled a national granting program
Developed a Survivor-informed approach to governance and accountability
Launched the 60’s Scoop Archival Working Group Committee for the National Sixties Scoop Healing Archive in partnership with Library and Archives Canada and University of Winnipeg
Develop and lead an annual national colloquium focused on record preservation, cultural rights, and justice
Champion the Indigenous Human Rights issue of preventing the theft of keeping Indigenous children by nation states at the United Nations and international forums
Grown its operational network with professionals and student placements
Maintained clean audits and strong fiscal health of the Foundation
At the 2025 AGM, the board and staff of the Foundation honored Eric Phillips with blanketing ceremony. Board member Phillips, an original permanent board appointment from 2019-2020and Sixties Scoop Survivor, received the 2025NSSHFC Volunteer Service Award. His steadfast commitment, consistent leadership, and humility have helped shape the Foundation’s growth and inspire the next generation of Indigenous governance and advocacy.
Left Picture: Blanketing Ceremony to honour long serving board member Eric Phillips (centre) by the Board Chair, Shirley Cardinal (left) and Director of Finance and Operations, Selina Legge (Right); Right Picture: 2025 NSSHFC Volunteer Service Award presentedto board member Eric Phillips.
One of the most emotional and unifying moments during the AGM was the ceremonial recognition of Elder Philomene Sanderson as the Foundation’s first-ever National Sixties Scoop Mother. Elder Philomene being a Day School Survivor and mother of a 60’s Scoop stolen child, Elder Sanderson has guided the Foundation with cultural and spiritual wisdom since its inception. Her courageous storytelling at the 2025 Association of Canadian Archivists Conference was widely praised for its powerful and authentic representation of intergenerational healing.
Right Image of The Foundation’s first National Sixties Scoop Healing Mother, Elder Philomene Sanderson and Board Chair Shirley Cardinal. Left Image: Plaque for National Sixties Scoop Mother, Elder Philomene Sanderson
The 2025 AGM also offered a time for grounding and intentional reflection through a powerful mindfulness session led by Angela Poundmaker, CEO and Founder of Nurture Meditation. Angela, a Sixties Scoop Survivor herself, brought a unique and sacred energy to the gathering through her trauma-informed sound bath meditation practice, inviting participants into a space of emotional restoration. Her sessions blend neuroscience, sound therapy, Indigenous teachings, and breathwork to guide leaders, Survivors, and communities through embodied healing.
Angela’s facilitation reminded us that our work deeply rooted in trauma, truth, and hope requires collective nervous system care, rest, and emotional literacy. Her presence was more than a wellness offering; it was a profound ceremony of witnessing, allowing many to feel seen, held, and reconnected to breath and spirit.
For more information about Angela’s work or to bring her practice to your organization or event, visit www.nurturemeditation.com or contact her at info@nurturemeditation.com. You can also follow her healing journey on Instagram: @nurturemeditation.
Our Journaling session was beautifully captured by Angela Poundmaker CEO and Founder of Nurture Meditation
CEO and Founder of Nurture Meditation, Angela Poundmaker
Nurture Meditation banner
Looking forward, the Board and staff furthered the annual discussion around the rolling forward five-year strategic plan. Discussions during the various sessions included on building long-term fundraising capacity, strengthening digital and archival storytelling, expanding national awareness of the Sixties Scoop to name a few.
As we celebrate our fifth year, we remain deeply honoured to serve our survivor community, and committed to a future rooted in healing, reclamation, and truth-telling.
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gilakas'la, kinanâskomitin, marsee, marsi cho, migwetch, nia:wen, nakummek, tshinashkumitin, wela’lin, tiniki, merci, thank you.
Stay connected: Visit https://www.sixtiesscoophealingfoundation.ca/ or follow us on social media to learn more about our work, impact, and ongoing initiatives
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